Things are starting to look up for General Motors and the Chevrolet Volt extended range electric vehicle. The Volt has scored its biggest sales month ever during August. Chevrolet was able to sell more than 2,500 of the plug-in vehicles according to GM spokeswoman Michelle Malcho.

"We are seeing sales momentum continuing to build for the Volt, especially in key markets — California, Michigan, Illinois and Florida," she said.

"We're starting to see other markets grow, as well. As with a lot of first-generation technologies, it takes time to build customer awareness."

Prior to August, the best sales month ever for the Volt was March with 2,289 units sold. Cumulative sales for the Volt in 2012 are coming very close to the sales numbers Toyota put up with its Prius hybrid in its second year of production. Toyota was able to move 15,600 Prius vehicles for all of 2001, the second-year that car was available. Through August, 13,300 Volts have been sold.

GM also announced that it would stop production of the Volt at its Detroit Hamtramck Assembly Plant for four weeks while the plant retools. GM says that the company built ahead for Volt production anticipating the shutdown and will have enough vehicles on hand to meet customer demand. The assembly line will close down on September 17 through October 15, as GM gets ready for production of the 2014 Chevrolet Impala to begin at the plant.

Chevrolet Volt [Image Source: TECHVEHI]

This plant has been idled two times this year already due to low demand for the Volt. At least this time demand is remaining high. General Motors sold 10,666 Volt automobiles during the first seven months of 2012. That is a 270% increase from the same span of 2011.

GM had previously forecast the sale of 45,000 Volts for 2012 and abandoned that number saying instead that it would match supply to demand.